U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s Bipartisan Work Recognized by National Organization

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) was honored with a 2019 Legislative Action Award by the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), a nationally-recognized think tank that actively works to find consensus and common ground to address key challenges facing the nation. The annual award recognizes Members of Congress committed to solving problems and developing sound policy for the American people.

“Senator Baldwin exemplifies how lawmakers can be proud, productive and pragmatic partisans. She has forged solutions on major issues from America’s opioid crisis, to vital assistance for family caregivers and bolstering access to maternity health care,” said BPC President Jason Grumet. “In tandem with Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Baldwin introduced the bipartisan Improving Access to Maternity Care Act, which was signed into law, to address critical maternity care shortages in underserved areas. And, she worked with Republican Susan Collins on the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, which requires the federal government to devise a strategy to support unpaid family caregivers nationwide.”

“Americans expect Republicans and Democrats to work together and address the real challenges we face as a country. Getting things done requires a desire to work together across party lines on solutions. It means moving past what divides us and finding common ground,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am honored to have my work recognized by the Bipartisan Policy Center with this award, and I remain committed to solving problems in a way that produces results for the American people.”

In announcing the award, BPC cited Senator Baldwin’s record of experience working across the aisle to find solutions to help lower the cost of prescription drugs, strengthen oversight of the VA’s opioid prescribing practices and provide safer care for our veterans, bolster family caregivers and improve access to maternal health care.

When it comes to the scourge of addition afflicting our country, Senator Baldwin authored a measure with Republican Bill Cassidy of Louisiana – which was included in the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 that became law, to help stop the flow of illegal opioids and other illicit drugs into the country through international mail. That law also includes provisions Senator Baldwin wrote to expand and extend an important grant program to provide states and tribal communities additional resources for local prevention, treatment and recovery efforts.

Senator Baldwin has worked to pass bills with other Republicans, including the late Senator John McCain, Senator Marco Rubio, and fellow Bipartisan Policy Center awardee, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, working to strengthen oversight of the VA’s opioid prescribing practices and providing safer care for our veterans.

According to the BPC, recipients of the award have served in their chambers for six years or less, demonstrated skill and courage in the face of political challenges to confront a political problem, provided a positive tenor to the legislative process, and improved the functioning of Congress through their example. Baldwin was among six Members of Congress who received the award in 2019, including Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Rep. John Katko (R-NY).